Oscillating water sprinkler

ABSTRACT

The sprinkler manifold tube is driven in oscillation about its axis by a hydro-mechanical system having only two moving mechanical parts. A valve actuated at the adjustably predetermined end of each sprinkler tube sweep switches the primary control streams of a fluidic system to signal deflection of a secondary control stream which merges with the controlled flow to fill at a steady rate the chamber on one side of a paddle-piston which is fixed to the sprinkler tube to drive the same. Simultaneously, water from the other side of the paddle is sucked from the chamber by the aspirating effect of the main flow of water to the sprinkler tube. Switching the flow of the primary control stream effects reversal of travel of the sprinkler tube without time dwell.

United States Patent 1' Oberto et al. I

OSCILLATING WATER SPRINKLER Inventors: Edwin L. Oberto, Libertyville;

David E. Ryan, Grayslake; Jon C. Wiltberger, Round Lake, all of ill.

Burgess Vlbrocrafters, Inc., Grayslake, Ill.

Filed: Sept. 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 290,398

Assignee:

U.S. Cl. 239/242, l37/8l.5

Int. Cl B05!) 3/16 Field of Search 239/242, 263, 237, 239/239, 240, 241; 137/815 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/l952 Nordenstam 239/242 6/1960 Smith 239/242 X 3/l969 Turner et al 239/242 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-Howard H. Darbo et al.

[57] ABSTRACT The sprinkler manifold tube is driven in oscillation about its axis by a hydro-mechanical system having only two moving mechanical parts. A valve actuated at the adjustably predetermined end of each sprinkler tube sweep switches the primary control streams of a fluidic system to signal deflection of a secondary control stream which merges with the controlled flow to v fill at a steady rate the chamber on one side of a paddle-piston which is fixed to the sprinkler tube to drive the same. Simultaneously, water from the other side of the paddle is sucked from the chamber by the aspirating effect of the main flow of water to the sprinkler tube. Switching the flow of the primary control stream effects reversal of travel of the sprinkler tube without time dwell.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEU HOT 2 3 I875 SHEET 2 OF 4 OSCILLATING WATER SPRINKLER BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A great variety of lawn sprinklers has been devised and manufactured. All are intended'to distribute water as uniformly as possible over a given lawn area at the rate at which the water will soak into the ground. Some are simple sprinkler manifolds with no moving parts, some provide for a multiplicity of streams from nozzles which rotate about a vertical or a horizontal axis, and many are adjustable to limit the area to be sprinkled at any given setting. The constantly moving streams are preferable in that they spread the vwater for a given location of the sprinkler over a larger area for optimum absorption of the water by the soil. Since sprinklers rotating about a vertical axis supply water to a circular area while sprinklers which oscillate about a horizontal axis serve a rectangular area, the latter is generally preferred because the entire lawn can be uniformly supplied with water by successively sprinkling areas with straight common boundaries.

To achieve improved certainty and continuity of operation and uniformity of supply of water for a given setting, horizontal oscillating sprinklers have become increasingly complex with concomitantly increasing cost and mechanical failure probability.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lawn sprinkler having a minimum of moving parts and which is capable of supplying a moving stream of water in amount uniform throughout an adjustably predetermined area. A simple switching valve having only two positions and required to control the flow of only small control streams of water is shifted from one position to the other at each end of the sweep of the sprinkler tube with instant return without time dwell. Only the sprinkler tube itself with the driving paddle-piston affixed thereto moves in addition to the control valve. Other action in this dynamic sprinkler takes place in the changing directions and rates of flow of the water itself in the various channels provided for the operation of the sprinkler and the supply of water to the sprinkler tube.

The achievements and advantages of the oscillating water sprinkler of this invention will become more fully apparent as the description thereof proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the oscillating water sprinkler of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at the vertical plane through the axis of the sprinkler tube.

FIG. 3 is an end view taken from the right of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view in cross section taken at the line 4 4 of FIG. 3. I

FIG. 5 is a detailed view in cross section taken at the line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at the line 6 6 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the fluidic circuit control plate for use in explaining the operation of the fluidic flow control system.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are detailed views, in cross section, taken at the lines 9 9 and 10 10, respectively, of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT As seen in FIG. 1, the sprinkler comprises a base including a housing 1 having sides 2 and ends 3 mounted upon supporting legs 4. Sprinkler tube 5, which may be essentially straight, comprises middle sleeve 50 and nozzle manifold tubes 5b and 5c, the latter being provided with rows of spaced nozzles 6 which may be progressively increasingly tilted outwardly to provide a uniform sprinkling pattern throughout the width of the rectangular lawn area to be sprinkled for a particular setting of the sprinkler. The ends of the sprinkler tube are closed by plugs advantageously provided with pins 8 (FIG. 2) which may be used to clean out the orifice of any nozzle that may become plugged or partially obstructed in the course of use of the sprinkler.

An inlet snout 9 equipped with a hose coupling 10 projects through the end 3 of the housing for connection of the water supply hose to the sprinkler. Lever ll I, mounted for movement back and forth about its hub 12 and engagement by stops l3 and 14 is the activating lever of the sprinkler tube oscillation control valve. Stops l3 and 14 are adjustable by manual manipulation of the handle ends 15 and 16. The stop assembly is affixed to the sprinkler tube sleeve 5a and, when the predetermined end of a sweep in one direction is reached, a stop engages the end of lever 11 and carries it to the alternate position of this valve handle to switch a fluidic control stream, as will be described in detail hereinafter, to effect reversal of the direction of rotation of the sprinkler tube for the return sweep with eventual engagement of the other stop with the valve handle to continue the oscillating movement of the sprinkler tube.

The fluidic system that controls and powers the oscillating movement of the sprinkler tube and provides for the continuous supply of water to the sprinkler tube is established by hydraulic circuit plate 17 the configuration of which is shown in plan in FIG. 6 and in vertical section inthe assembly view of FIG. 2. As is the general practice in fluidic amplifier circuits, the stream channels are formed in this plate as open grooves rectangular in cross section and closed or ported, as required,

by seal plate 18. A face plate 19, which in the embodi- Y ment illustrated serves also as an end of the sprinkler housing, overlies the seal plate. The face, seal and circuit plates are securely fastened together as by screws 20.

Sleeve 5a of sprinkler tube 5 passes through aligned holes in the face, seal and circuit plates and also through the hub 21 of enclosure 22 which defines fluid motor chamber 23 wherein paddle-piston 24 is driven by water pressure in the chamber to rotate sleeve 5a to which the paddle-piston is permanently affixed to thus drive the sprinkler tube in rotary oscillation. Circumferential flanges 25, which are integral with sleeve 5a, bear axially against U-cup seals 26 which surround sleeve 5a, preventing axial movement of the sprinkler tube in the assembly.

Paddle-piston 24 is provided with squeegee seals 24a (FIGS. 2 and 9) along the three sides that approach and slide by the walls of chamber 23. These seals are provided by the edges of a sheet of rubber sandwiched between the two vanes 24b and 24c one of which, 24b, is an integral part of sleeve 5a. The vanes 24b and 240 are tightly fastened together with the rubber sheet 24a securely held between them. Ribs 5d which project radially from sleeve 5a minimize the by-passing of water from the pressure side to the vacuum side of the motor chamber around sleeve 5a.

Adjustable stops l3 and 14 are frictionally sandwiched between washers 27, 28 and 29, the latter being adjustably fastened to sleeve 5a by means of a set screw 30. As has already been mentioned, and as will be described in further detail below, the stops 13 and 14 may be manually adjusted to determine the extent of oscillation at each end of the sweep of the sprinkler tube.

Seal plate 18 is provided with four water inlet ports (FIG. 5); namely, main stream port 31, left primary control stream port 32, right primary control stream port 33, and motor chamber control stream port 34. Each of these several ports is large enough to permit the required flow of water passing therethrough from the inlet manifold chamber 35 defined by the closure 36 which is a part of face plate 19. While ports 31 and 34 are always open to the flow of water, ports 32 and 33 are alternately opened and closed by a gate valve 37 having arms 38 and 39 and a stem 40 to which the valve lever 11 is secured. O-ring 41 seals the valve stem against leakage of water under pressure in the manifold chamber 35.

FIG. 6 shows the plan of the hydraulic circuit plate 17, the various interconnected channels providing for the various control and supply streams of water which flow through the system. The channel pattern of the circuit plate is symmetrical about the vertical centerline. The main channel 42 comprises lower left and lower right arms 42a and 42b, respectively, and upper left and upper right arms 42c and 42d, respectively. The two arms of the main channel open into manifold chambers 43 and 44 which communicate with openings 45 in the walls of sprinkler tube sleeve 5a, completing connection from the hose coupling and inlet snout 9 to the sprinkler nozzles 6 through port 31 which permanently opens into main channel 42. As will be seen, the main stream to the sprinkler tube flows alternately through the left arm and right arm of the main channel as the sprinkler tube oscillates alternately back and forth.

During operation of the sprinkler, water also flows continuously through port 34 into motor chamber control stream channel 46. This channel divides at the bistable fluidic interchange 460 into a left arm 47 and a right arm 48. Beyond the juncture of the open ends of these channels with the respective arms of the main water supply channel, motor chamber connecting channels 49 and 50 communicate with chamber 23 on the respective sides of paddle-piston 24.

As is well known, the configuration and dimensions of the interconnecting channels of the fluidic amplifier system must provide the essential conditions of stream flow and intersection and channel divergence at switch points to effect the desired flow pattern. Recognizing that all channel walls are normal to the plane of the view of the circuit plate of FIG. 6, the configuration of the channels and their relative dimensions in the plane of the section are shown. The different and varying depths of particular channels will be specified as the description of the operation of the fluidic system proceeds. Dimensions will be specified in inches by way of example of the particular embodiment of the invention herein described.

Main stream port 31, which is 1.000 by 0.300, opens into main channel 42 which has a width of 0.300 tapering to a depth of 0.250 and converges to a width of 0.064 just downstream from its intersection with the outlets of channels 47 and 48. The bottoms of the end portions of the upper arms 42c and 42d of the main channel slope downwardly as the side walls diverge to increase the cross section of the main streams as they open into manifold chambers 43 and 44, the hydraulic effect being the recovery of a portion of the pressure lost by the stream in passing through the circuit plate channels.

Rising from the point of entry of water from port 34, 0.312 diameter, motor chamber control stream channel 46 converges at an included angle of 14 to a width of 0.094 at the point of intersection with control channels 46a and 46b, then diverges at an included angle of 30 to divide in the formation of left and right arms 47 and 48, respectively, of this control channel. Channels 46a and 46b, width 0.062, and channel 46 have depths of 0.125, the end portions of arms 47 and 48 converging as indicated with bottoms sloping downwardly to the level of the bottoms of the main channel at their intersections therewith at which points the width of these arms are 0.084.

Proceeding downstream from the intersection of arms 47 and 48 with the main channel, the side walls diverge to the inlet ends of motor chamber channels 49 and 50 which lead into the chamber.

The flow patterns during operation of the sprinkler will be described in conjunction with the diagrammatic illustrations of FIGS. 7 and 8. Functionally flowing streams of water are indicated by stippling. For clarity, reference numerals already employed to designate the various channels will sometimes be used to designate the streams that flow through them. As is indicated by arrows 51, FIG. 7 illustrates the flow pattern during the half cycle when the paddle-piston 24 moves from right to left while FIG. 8 illustrates conditions during the other half of the oscillation cycle.

During all times that the sprinkler is in operation, water entering through port 31 is flowing to both arms 42a and 42b as supply water. During the half cycle operation illustrated in FIG. 7, the main stream indicated by arrow 52 supplies the sprinkler tube while the stream indicated by arrow 53 is diverted by control stream 54, at least in large part, to provide monostable flow through channel 50, as indicated by arrow 55, and through port 50a into motor chamber 23. Stream 55 is the confluence of streams 53 and 54.

Stream 54 is a secondary control stream which is itself controlled by primary control stream 56. The flow of stream 56 results from the action of gate valve 37 in closing port 33 and opening port 32 to the inlet water manifold chamber 35. The impingement of control stream 56 on stream 57 causes this stream to follow the right side of the diverging walls of channel 46c to become secondary control stream 54. The relatively shallow and narrow channels through which the tributary streams eventuating in stream 55 flow, along with the dimensions of channel 50, limit the volume rate of flow to that required to effect the desired rate of movement of paddle-piston 24, taking into account the volume of chamber 23. At the same time, stream 52 must be restricted to the degree that the continuing supply of water under pressure to the sprinkler tube becomes inadequate.

A feature of the fluidic system of the invention resides in the fact that the fluid motor which drives the sprinkler tube in oscillation is double acting. Pressure brought to bear against the right side of paddle-piston 24 by the water flowing into the chamber through port 50a exerts force in the direction of arrow 51 and, at the same time, suction is applied to the left side of the paddle-piston due to the aspiration of water from the chamber through port 49a and channel 49 (arrow 49b) by main sprinkler tube supply stream 52 as it flows through the fluidic interchange downstream from the vena contracta at the end of channel 42a. The water so drawn from the left side of the chamber merges with the main stream to flow to the sprinkler tube.

Adjustable stops 13 and 14 are carried in rotation by the sprinkler tube as it sweeps back and forth about its axis. When, as a consequence of the action just described, the moving paddle-sprinkler tube-stop system has rotated to the point at which stop 14 engages lever 11 of gate valve 37 (as indicated, for example, in FIG. 3), further rotation of the system carries lever l l to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. In doing so, the valve is moved to its alternate position at which port 32 is closed by valve arm 38 and port 33 is uncovered. The left side motor chamber control stream 56 is thereby stopped and flow of the alternative control stream 58 is initiated, providing the flow-switching pulse. As is indicated in FIG. 8, the effect of thus switching the flow of the primary control streams is to switch motor chamber control stream 54 from channel 48 to channel 47 as is indicated by arrow 59. With stream 54 no longer impinging upon stream 53 to divert the latter intochannel 50 and thence into the motor chamber, stream 53 resumes its normal course through upper right arm channel 42d as the main sprinkler tube supply. At the same time, responsive to the force of motor chamber control stream 59, what had been during the previous half cycle of the oscillation the main supply stream 52 for the sprinkler tube is largely diverted to motor chamber channel 49 as indicated by arrow 60. The net effect is to instantaneously reverse the direction of movement of paddle-piston 24 to reverse the direction of rotation of the sprinkler tube. As has already been explained, the mechanical action results from the additive effects of pressure applied to the left side of the paddle-piston and the suction to the right side as a consequence of the aspirating action of main stream 53 flowing at reduced static pressure past the open end of channel 50.

The flip-flop fluidic action described, as controlled by the movement of the sprinkler tube acting through stops l3 and 14 and switching valve 37, establishes and maintains the oscillating rotary movement of the sprinkler tube. It will be noted that within the extreme limits established by the maximum spread of stops l3 and 14, the limits of the back and forth sweeps of the sprinkler tube are infinitely variable. The range is not confined to symmetrical limits; the stops may be arranged to cover an area on only one side of the sprinkler or for only a short distance on one side with maximum throw to the other side, etc. Because the reversing action of the fluidic system takes place while the tube is still moving to complete a sweep, commencement of the return sweep is essentially instantaneous with no appreciable dwell at the point of reversal. Thus, excessive water supply to the outer limits of the rectangulararea covered by a given setting of the sprinkler is avoided. Having no turbine wheels or gears, there is very little inertia requiring any appreciable length of time for the system to slow down and then accelerate to its normal sweep movement. Since the rate of flow of the stream of water into the water chamber is constant, movement of the paddle-piston and of the sprinkler tube is uniform in angular velocity throughout the duration of each sweep.

The oscillating sprinkler of this invention features complete flexibility in use in that an infinite number of watering areas can be predetermined by appropriate adjustment of the stops on the sprinkler tube. All of the water flowing into the apparatus is directed to and flows from the nozzle manifold tubes; no part of the water is merely vented haphazardly from the sprinkler. High speed oscillation is attainable with substantially no dwell at the ends of the sweeps. Thus, natural rainfall is emulated with resulting desirable soaking of the turf and soil.

We claim:

1. In an oscillating water sprinkler having a base with a horizontal sprinkler tube mounted therein for oscillating motion about its axis and a Water supply inlet, a fluid motor comprising a chamber having a paddlepiston arranged therein drivingly secured to the sprinkler tube, and means for providing and controlling the flow of water to supply the sprinkler tube and said fluid motor, said means comprising water supply channel means and water flow control channel means, said supply channel means comprising a pair of alternate water supply channels each connected at its inlet end with the water supply inlet and at its outlet end with the sprinkler tube, each said supply channel having a motor chamber channel branching off therefrom at a fluidic interchange and opening into said chamber, said control channel means comprising a fluidic amplifier having a bistable interchange and alternate control channels each connected with the water supply inlet through one of two alternate valve ports, said control channel means also having a motor chamber flow control channel connected at its inlet end with the water supply inlet and dividing at the bistable interchange of said amplifier into two branches terminating respectively at said fluidic interchanges with which said motor chamber channels are connected to complete a pair of secondary fluidic valves controlling flow through said chamber channels into said chambers, a mechanical valve arranged to switch the flow of water through one or the other of said two valve ports, and means for manipulating said mechanical valve in response to the angular position of the sprinkler tube.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for manipulating the mechanical valve comprises a set of stops mounted upon the sprinkler tube for movement therewith.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the stops are frictionally mounted and adjustable to adjustably predetermine the limit of rotational movement of the sprinkler tube in each direction of oscillation.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim wherein the paddle-piston includes resilient sealing means extending between the three edges of said paddle-piston remote from the sprinkler tube and the end and sweep walls respectively of the motor chamber.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the paddle-piston comprises a pair of plates and a sheet of rubber-like material sandwiched therebetween, said plates being fastened to each other and to the sprinkler tube, the edges of said rubber-like material serving as squeegee sealing means.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and including means for minimizing the by-passing of water from one side of the paddle-piston to the other around the sprinkler tube.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water supply channels from vena contracta just upstream from the fluidic interchanges whereby water is aspirated from the motor chamber on one side of the paddle-piston while water is supplied under pressure to said chamber on the other side of said paddle-piston whereby the fluid motor is compound in its action.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sprinkler tube comprises'an open-ended middle sleeve and a nozzle manifold tube connected with and extending from each end of said sleeve, said sleeve being mounted in the base of the sprinkler and said manifold tubes being entirely outside of the sprinkler base.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,767,118 Dated October 23, 1973 Edwin L. Oberto, David E. Ryan, Jon C. Wiltberger It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected 'as shown below:

Col. 4, Line 63 "stream' 52 must be" should read --stream 52 must not be- Signed end sealed this 2nd day of April 1.97M.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I'I.FLET 'JHER,JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) uscowwoclaommpeg b 

1. In an oscillating water sprinkler having a base with a horizontal sprinkler tube mounted therein for oscillating motion about its axis and a water supply inlet, a fluid motor comprising a chamber having a paddle-piston arranged therein drivingly secured to the sprinkler tube, and means for providing and controlling the flow of water to supply the sprinkler tube and said fluid motor, said means comprising water supply chanNel means and water flow control channel means, said supply channel means comprising a pair of alternate water supply channels each connected at its inlet end with the water supply inlet and at its outlet end with the sprinkler tube, each said supply channel having a motor chamber channel branching off therefrom at a fluidic interchange and opening into said chamber, said control channel means comprising a fluidic amplifier having a bistable interchange and alternate control channels each connected with the water supply inlet through one of two alternate valve ports, said control channel means also having a motor chamber flow control channel connected at its inlet end with the water supply inlet and dividing at the bistable interchange of said amplifier into two branches terminating respectively at said fluidic interchanges with which said motor chamber channels are connected to complete a pair of secondary fluidic valves controlling flow through said chamber channels into said chambers, a mechanical valve arranged to switch the flow of water through one or the other of said two valve ports, and means for manipulating said mechanical valve in response to the angular position of the sprinkler tube.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for manipulating the mechanical valve comprises a set of stops mounted upon the sprinkler tube for movement therewith.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the stops are frictionally mounted and adjustable to adjustably predetermine the limit of rotational movement of the sprinkler tube in each direction of oscillation.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the motor chamber is defined by planar end walls perpendicular to the axis of the sprinkler tube, planar side walls extending between said end walls substantially perpendicular thereto, and a cylindrical sweep wall remote from and coaxial with said sprinkler tube.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the paddle-piston is planar and extends radially from the sprinkler tube into the motor chamber, said paddle-piston lying in a plane which includes the axis of said sprinkler tube.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the paddle-piston includes resilient sealing means extending between the three edges of said paddle-piston remote from the sprinkler tube and the end and sweep walls respectively of the motor chamber.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the paddle-piston comprises a pair of plates and a sheet of rubber-like material sandwiched therebetween, said plates being fastened to each other and to the sprinkler tube, the edges of said rubber-like material serving as squeegee sealing means.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and including means for minimizing the by-passing of water from one side of the paddle-piston to the other around the sprinkler tube.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the water supply channels from vena contracta just upstream from the fluidic interchanges whereby water is aspirated from the motor chamber on one side of the paddle-piston while water is supplied under pressure to said chamber on the other side of said paddle-piston whereby the fluid motor is compound in its action.
 10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sprinkler tube comprises an open-ended middle sleeve and a nozzle manifold tube connected with and extending from each end of said sleeve, said sleeve being mounted in the base of the sprinkler and said manifold tubes being entirely outside of the sprinkler base. 